Genes linked to inherited deafness in children
Official title: Identification of Autosomal Recessive Nonsyndromic Hearing Impairment Genes
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11598471 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Columbia is looking for the hidden genes that cause congenital nonsyndromic hearing loss in young children so families can get earlier diagnosis and better care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 1998 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $60,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R01DC003594-24S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11598471 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with two or more affected members and a child with congenital or early-onset nonsyndromic hearing loss, from Hungary, Nigeria, or Pakistan, may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
Families without a history of autosomal recessive NSHI or from populations not included in the study may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to identify genes responsible for autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss in babies and children from diverse populations. Researchers will collect DNA from affected families in Hungary, Nigeria, and Pakistan, and use modern sequencing to find variants linked to the condition. The findings could improve genetic screening, enable earlier intervention, and help guide future treatments for hearing loss in young patients. Participants would contribute DNA and family history information to advance understanding of hereditary deafness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could enable earlier and more accurate genetic diagnosis of hearing loss, leading to timely therapies and improved communication outcomes for affected children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has identified several NSHI genes, but most remain undiscovered due to genetic diversity; this study seeks new gene discoveries.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leal, Suzanne M — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Leal, Suzanne M
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.